Overview

Hailed as "sultry [and] spine-tingling" (Publishers Weekly) and "intense, sensual, and mesmerizing" (Library Journal), Shadow Game plunged readers into a world of terrifying power and forbidden passion. Now, New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan returns to that exciting world to give us her most breathtaking novel yet.

Dahlia LeBlanc's gifts are also a curse, making it impossible for her to be around others without hurting them. But can she trust her secrets to ...

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This Book

Overview

Hailed as "sultry [and] spine-tingling" (Publishers Weekly) and "intense, sensual, and mesmerizing" (Library Journal), Shadow Game plunged readers into a world of terrifying power and forbidden passion. Now, New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan returns to that exciting world to give us her most breathtaking novel yet.

Dahlia LeBlanc's gifts are also a curse, making it impossible for her to be around others without hurting them. But can she trust her secrets to Nicolas Trevane, a Shadow warrior sent to find her?

Editorial Reviews

From Barnes & Noble

The Barnes & Noble Review
Themes of betrayal, trauma, redemption, and love pervade this sensual, action-packed sequel to Shadow Game. Once again, bestselling author Christine Feehan features characters with extraordinary, paranormal powers -- in particular, Dahlia Le Blanc, who is both telekinetic and psychic. The exploitation of her gifts as a child by Dr. Whitney, a notorious and sinister character from the previous book, has left Dahlia damaged and cautious. What's more, someone wants her dead. It's up to Nicholas Trevane, a man with unusual powers of his own, to save her, and as Dahlia learns to trust this solitary man, they fall fiercely in love. Issues of trust aren't the only ones the couple have to deal with: Dahlia generates flames in the midst of violent energy, which means that having sex with her could be playing with fire, literally. Ginger Curwen

Publishers Weekly

In Shadow Game (2003), Feehan introduced the GhostWalkers, a group of men with military training and scientifically enhanced psychic skills. This sultry and suspenseful follow-up focuses on the exploits of GhostWalker Nicolas Trevane, who sets out to rescue Dahlia Le Blanc, a government operative with astonishing telekinetic talents, from her secluded residence in the Louisiana bayou. Nicolas's mission is fraught with danger. Not only is Dahlia emotionally unstable (she can make objects go up in flames when she's particularly upset), she's also been targeted by a traitor who has hired mercenaries to kill her. As Nicolas and Dahlia evade their pursuers and attempt to unmask the traitor, they forge a strong emotional bond. Dahlia fears her psychic powers may rage out of control if she makes love to Nicolas, but their passion culminates in a love scene that, while hot, only involves a handful of harmless flames. Feehan's newest offering is as swift-moving and sexually charged as her best vampire romances (Dark Destiny, etc.), with none of their florid prose. In short, it is an electrifying read, one that should satisfy her fans and cement her reputation as the reigning queen of the paranormal romance. Agent, Steve Axelrod. (Aug.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Related Subjects

Meet the Author

I live in the beautiful mountains of Lake County, California. I have always loved hiking, camping, rafting and being outdoors. I’ve also been involved in the martial arts for years—I hold a third degree black belt, instruct in a Korean karate system, and have taught self-defense. I am happily married to a romantic man who often inspires me with his thoughtfulness. We have a yours, mine, and ours family, claiming eleven children as our own. I have always written books, forcing my ten sisters to read every word, and now my daughters read and help me edit my manuscripts. It is fun to take all the research I have done on wild animals, raptors, vampires, weather, and volcanoes and put it together with romance.

Read an Excerpt

MIND GAME

Jove Books

Chapter One

"She's obviously not cooperating again," Dr. Whitney grumbled and scribbled fiercely in his notebook, clearly somewhere between total exasperation and frustration. "Don't let her have her toys again, until she decides to work. I've had enough of her nonsense."

The nurse hesitated. "Doctor, that isn't a good idea with Dahlia. She can be very ..." She paused, clearly searching for the right word. "Difficult."

That caught his attention. He looked up from his papers, the impatience on his face fading to interest. "You're afraid of her, Milly. She's four years old and you're afraid of her. Why?" There was more than scientific interest in his tone. There was eagerness.

The nurse continued to watch the child through the glass window. The little girl had shiny black hair, thick and long and falling down her back in an unkept, untidy mass. She sat on the floor rocking back and forth, clutching a small blanket to her and moaning softly. Pitifully. Continually. Her eyes were enormous, as black as midnight and as penetrating as steel. Milly Duboune winced visibly and looked away when the child turned those black, too old eyes in her direction.

"She can't see us through the glass," Dr. Whitney pointed out.

"She knows we're here." The nurse dropped her voice to a whisper. "She's dangerous, Doctor. No one wants to work with her. She won't let us brush her hair or tell her to go to bed and we can't punish her."

Dr. Whitney lifted an eyebrow, sheer arrogance crossing his face. "You're all that afraid of this child? Why wasn't I informed?"

Milly hesitated. Fear was clearly etched on her face. "We knew you'd demand more from her. You have no idea what you'd unleash. You don't pay any attention to them after you make your demands. She's in terrible pain. We don't blame her when she throws her tantrums. Ever since you insisted we separate the children, many are showing signs of extreme discomfort or, as in Dahlia's case, a high level of pain. She can't eat or sleep properly. She's too sensitive to light and sound. She's losing weight. Her pulse is too rapid, her heart-rate up all the time. She cries even in her sleep. Not a child's cry, but a cry of pain. Nothing we've tried has helped."

"There's no reason for her to be in pain," Dr. Whitney snapped. "All of you coddle those children. They have a purpose, a much bigger purpose than you can imagine. Go back in there and tell her if she doesn't cooperate, I'll take all of the toys and her blanket away from her."

"Not her blanket, Dr. Whitney, it's all she clings to. It's all the comfort she has." The nurse shook her head hard and stepped back from the window. "If you want that blanket, you go take it away from her yourself."

Dr. Whitney studied the desperation in the woman's eyes with clinical detachment. He indicated for the nurse to reenter the room. "See if you can coax her to cooperate. What does she want the most?"

"To be put back in the same room with either Lily or Flame."

"Iris. The child's name is Iris not Flame. Don't indulge her personality simply because she has red hair. She already is more trouble than she's worth with that temper of hers. The last thing we want is for Iris and this one," he indicated the dark haired little girl, "together. Go tell her she can spend time with Lily if what she does pleases me."

Milly took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the small room. The doctor flicked a switch so he could hear the conversation between the adult and the little girl.

"Dahlia? Look at me, honey," the nurse wheedled. "I have a surprise for you. Dr. Whitney said if you do something really good for him, you can spend time with Lily. Would you like that? To spend the rest of the evening with Lily?"

Dahlia clutched the raggedy blanket to her and nodded her head, her eyes solemn. The nurse knelt beside her and reached out her hand to smooth Dahlia's hair away from her face. Immediately the little girl ducked, clearly unafraid, simply avoiding physical contact with her. Milly sighed and dropped her hand. "Okay, Dahlia. Try something with one of the balls. See if you can do something with them."

Dahlia turned her head and looked directly at the doctor through the one-way glass. "Why does that man stare at us all the time? What does he want?" She sounded more adult than child and she looked like a young witch with too-old eyes.

"He wants to see if you can do anything special," the nurse answered.

"I don't like him."

"You don't have to like him, Dahlia. You just have to show him what you can do. You know you have all sorts of wonderful tricks you can do."

"It hurts when I do them."

"Where does it hurt?" The nurse glanced at the glass too, a small frown beginning to form.

"In my head. It hurts all the time in my head and I can't make it go away. Lily and Flame make it go away."

"Just do something for the doctor and you can spend all evening with Lily."

Dahlia sat silent for a moment, still rocking, her fingers curled tightly in the blanket. Behind the one-way glass, Dr. Whitney sucked in his breath and scribbled across the page of his notebook hastily, intrigued by the child's demeanor. She was clearly weighing the advantages and disadvantages and making a judgment at her young age. Finally she nodded, as if bestowing a great favor on the nurse.

Without further argument, Dahlia placed her small hand over one ball and began to make small circles above it. Dr. Whitney leaned close to the glass to study the lines of concentration on her face. The ball began to spin on the floor then rose beneath her hand. She transferred the ball to her index finger, keeping it spinning a few inches above the floor in an amazing display of her phenomenal ability to control the ball with her mind. A second sphere joined the first in the air beneath her tiny palm, both spinning madly like tops. The task appeared almost effortless. Dahlia seemed to be concentrating, but not wholly. She glanced at the nurse and then at the glass, looking nearly bored. She held the balls spinning in the air for a minute or two.

Abruptly she let her hand fall, clapping both hands over her head, pressing her palms tightly against her temples. The balls fell to the ground. Her face was pale, white lines around her mouth.

Dr. Whitney swore softly and flicked a second switch. "Have her do it again. This time with as many balls as she can handle. I want the action sustained this time so I can time her."

"She can't, doctor, she's in pain," Milly protested. "We have to take her to Lily. It's the only thing that will help her."

"She's only saying that so she can get her way. How could Lily or Iris take her pain away? That's just ridiculous, they're children. If she wants to see Lily she can repeat the experiment and try a little harder."

There was a small silence. The little girl's face darkened. Her eyes grew pitch black. She stared fiercely at the glass. "He's a bad man," she told the nurse. "A very bad man." The glass began to fracture into a fine spider's web. There were at least ten balls of varying size on the floor near the child. All of them began to spin madly in the air before slamming again and again against the window. Glass fragments broke off and rained onto the floor. Chips flew wildly in the air, choking the space until it appeared to be snowing glass.

The nurse screamed and ran from the small room, slamming the door behind her. The walls swelled outward with the terrible rage on the child's face. The door rocked on its hinges. Flames raced up the wall, circled the door jam, bright crackling orange and red, spreading like a storm. Everything that could move was picked up from the floor and spun as if in the center of a tornado.

Through it all, Whitney stood watching, mesmerized by the power of the childish tantrum. He didn't even move when the glass cut his face and blood ran down into the collar of his immaculate shirt.

Dr. Lily Whitney-Miller snapped off the video and turned to face the small group of men who had been watching the tape with the same mesmerized enthrallment the doctor in the film had exhibited. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. It was always hard to watch her father behaving in such a monstrous fashion. No matter how often she viewed the tapes of his work, she could not equate that man with the man who had been so loving to her. "That, gentlemen, was Dahlia at age four," she announced. "She would be a couple of years younger than me now and she's the one I believe I've located."

There was an awed silence. "She was that powerful at the age of four? A four year old child?" Captain Ryland Miller put his arm around his wife to comfort her, knowing how she felt when she delved into the experiments her father had performed. He stared at the picture of the black-haired child on the screen. "What else do you have on her, Lily?"

"I've found more tapes. These are of a young woman being given advanced training as some kind of field operative. I'm convinced it's Dahlia. My father's code is different in these books and the subject under training is referred to as Novelty White. I didn't get it at first, but my father called each of the missing girls he experimented on by the name of a flower. Dahlia is often referred to as a novelty. I think he interchanges the name Dahlia with Novelty in these experiments. These tapes cover preteens and teen years. She's an exceptional young woman, high IQ, very talented, tremendous psychic ability but the tapes are difficult to watch because she is wide open to assault from the outside world and no one has taught her how to protect herself."

"How could she possibly exist in the outside world without being taught shields?" One of the men sitting in the shadows asked. Lily turned her head to look at him, sighing as she did so. Nicolas Trevane always seemed to be in the shadows and he was one of the GhostWalkers who made her nervous. He sat in such stillness he seemed to blend in with his surroundings, yet when he went into action, he exploded, moving so fast he seemed to blur. He was raised for part of his childhood on a reservation with his father's people and then spent ten years in Japan with his mother's people. His face never seemed to give anything away. His black eyes were flat and cold and frightened her almost as much as the fact that he was a sniper, a renowned marksman capable of the most deadly and secret of missions.

Lily bowed her head to avoid looking into his icy eyes. "I don't know, Nico. I have fewer answers now than I did a few months ago. I'm still having trouble making myself understand how my father could have experimented on children and then again on all of you. As for this poor girl, this child he virtually tortured, if I'm reading these notes correctly, she was eventually trained as a government operative and I think its possible they're still using her."

"That's not possible, Lily," Ryland objected. "You saw what happened to us when we tried to operate without an anchor. You said your father had tried using pulses of electricity on all of you. You know the results of that. Brain bleeds, acute pain. Strokes. It just isn't possible. She'd go insane. The experiment Dr. Whitney conducted opened all our brains leaving us without barriers or our natural filters. We're grown men, already trained, yet you're talking about a child trying to cope with impossible demands."

"It should have driven her over the edge," Lily agreed. She held up the notebook. "I've discovered a private sanitarium in Louisiana that the Whitney trusts owns. It is run by the Sisters of Mercy. And it has one patient. A young woman." She looked at her husband. "Her name is Dahlia Le Blanc."

"You aren't going to tell me your father bought out a religious organization," Raoul 'Gator' Fontenet protested. He hastily crossed himself. "I won't believe nuns could possibly be a part of Whitney's cover-up."

Lily smiled at him. "Actually, Gator, I think the nuns are fictitious as is the sanitarium. I think it's really a front to hide Dahlia from the world. As the sole director of all the trusts, I was able to dig fairly deep and it seems she's really the only patient and aside from the trust picking up all her bills, she has a sizable trust in her name with regular deposits. The deposits coincide with entries seemingly indicating my father had become suspicious she was being used as an operative for the United States government. Apparently he allowed her to be trained and then when he realized it was too difficult for her, he moved her to the sanitarium and, as always, when things went wrong, he left her without following up." There was an edge of bitterness to her voice. "I think my father tried to create a safe place for her there, just as he created this house for me."

Ryland bent his head to Lily's, his chin rubbing the top of her sable hair. "Your father was a brilliant man, Lily. He had to learn about love, it wasn't shown to him as a child." It was a refrain he reminded her of often since it had come to light that not only had Dr. Whitney experimented on Lily, removing the filters from her brain in order to enhance psychic ability, but that she wasn't his biological child as he'd led her to believe, but one of many children he'd 'bought' from foreign orphanages.

There was another silence. Tucker Addison whistled softly. He was a tall, stocky man with dark skin, brown eyes and an engaging smile. "You did it, Lily. You actually found her. And she's a GhostWalker like all of us."

"Before we get too excited, I think you all should watch some of the other training tapes I found. Each of these is labeled Novelty." She signaled to her husband to press play on the machine to start the video running.

Lily found herself holding her breath. She was certain the child Novelty and Dahlia were one and the same. "According to the records, Novelty, is eight years old here." The child's hair was thick and as black as a raven's wing. She wore it carelessly braided and the braid hung to her waist in a thick rope. Her face was delicate, matching the rest of her and the thick hair seemed to overpower her. "I'm certain this is the same child. Look at her face. Her eyes are the same." Lily felt the child was hiding from the world behind the mass of silken strands. She looked exotic, her origins, Asian. Like all the missing girls, Dr. Whitney had adopted her from a foreign country and brought her to his laboratory to enhance her natural psychic abilities.

In the video, the little girl was on a balance beam. She didn't walk carefully. She didn't even look down. She ran across it as if it was a wide sidewalk instead of a narrow piece of gymnastics equipment. She didn't hesitate at the end of the beam, but did a flip off of it, landing on her feet still running without breaking stride.

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Highly recommended

The second book in the GhostWalker series is a rollercoaster ride between the humor, drama and action. The first book Shadow Game left you wanting more as there were enough unanswered questions to be almost unsatisfying. Mind Game starts to answer some of the questions when read right after but the story is meaty enough to stand alone if you had not read Shadow Game. Nico and Dahlia are intelligent, funny and disfunctional enough to get you hooked on their story from the first page. I plan to read the rest of the series.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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Mind Game (Ghostwalkers Series #2)

The Ghostwalker Series was the first Christine Feehan books I had ever read; I loved it so much I bought the entire series. I liked the feel of the books and the relationships. It made me try the Dark Series next, then the Drake sisters. These are interesting and well written.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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jadewoe

Posted December 4, 2008

I Also Recommend:

Simply a Great Read.

This was my first book within this series, and let me tell you it didn't disapoint me. Christine Feehan has been a favorite of mine since the Drake sisters. The characters are strong willed. In this book the main female is emotionally withdrawn comes from an abusive background and the main male is very 'he-man' like. He shows her that he can and will remain by her side, while supporting her. Nicolas (Nico) Trevane chooses to go after Dahlia Le Blanc. He is on the mission to bring her in, safe and sound. Nico is considered to be very cold blooded, and Dehlia is just 'hot.' Both the female and male characters are strong willed. The background characters add texture to the story to keep you wanting just a bit more. A very good read.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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ilivetoread52

Posted December 21, 2013

Good reading

Enjoyed the #2 series in the GhostWalkers Series. Can't wait for the next installment.

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Anonymous

Posted October 18, 2013

Fantastic!!!!

As usual Christine Feehan creates an amazing story. I love how with each of her series she brings back old characters that you felt you got to know and you can keep up with their lives. A re-visiting old favorites and meeting new ones. She always keeps me wanting more!!!

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LovesReading2

Posted February 8, 2013

Another Great book from Ms. Feehan

I had read most of the Dark Series but not this series. Knowing how well she writes I was not disappointed with these books. So different of a setting but so very Ms. Feehan. Always a good, compelling and passionate read!

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Anonymous

Posted October 5, 2012

Love this book!

I love this book so much that I have read it twice. Its a good read but , then again i haven't found a Christine Feehan book that wasn't .

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Dollie1

Posted July 30, 2012

Highly Recommended

The research necessary to develope these characters is amazing. Ms. Feehand is an awesome writer.

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zathros

Posted April 14, 2012

A summer MUST read

Filled with action, suspense, and, of course, romance, this series is about men and women who's lives have been altered by a mad scientist who's purpose is to breed a race of super soldiers. Not your cup of tea? Then how about this. The series takes you on a search for young women who were adopted as children, genetically altered to the point where most can't function in "normal" society, and left to fend for themselves. It's about a group of soldiers who agreed to psychic testing and ending up fighting for their lives against a mad scientist. It's about the best and worst in men and women and the powerful effect of love. Too preachy? Then how about this. Hot bodies, steamy sex, car chases, gun fights, mad scientists, and powere hungry politicians. How about all of the above, not only in one series, but in one book. The series is a great ride, but the books can be read alone or out of order and still make for a great time.

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A great sequel to the first book in the Ghostwalker series.

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GAgirl305

Posted March 13, 2011

Great read. Check it out.

I liked it as well as the first one. Characters are great.

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Abigail2RV

Posted February 9, 2011

Highly Recommend this series

This book is great. Of course it seems to repeat itself as most of her writing, but it is a great story. I have fallen in love with all the characters and wish I could read more from them. They were written several years ago but still hold your attention. But it does repeat in several places. Buy them all and enjoy!!!

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tigergalCS

Posted February 5, 2011

Great series continues....

I am a huge fan of Christine Feehan & all of her series. She continues my favorite series with another great book. Can't wait to continue and watch everyone change and grow as series continues!!

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6211774

Posted February 3, 2011

Awesome!

Definitely the book for the person who loves a good love story but wants a little more then just that!

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Anonymous

Posted August 30, 2010

I Also Recommend:

Okay, but expected more...

After reading the first book in this series, I had high hopes for the mysterious Nicolas. Unfortunately, the book was a little repetitive and not as engaging as the first. Hopefully the next one the series will redeem it.

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Anonymous

Posted October 12, 2009

I have read many of Christine Feehan's books and have loved them all.

I enjoy the psychic, telepathic, shape shifting and the Carpathian books. Her books have also got me looking into some of the history of different areas and legends. They open your mind to what the future may hold. I also enjoy the romance that they offer. It is nice to get reinforcement that romance is still possible in the world.

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Sharing-Lovely

Posted September 5, 2009

I Also Recommend:

Amazing Piece

Following the first series entry of the GhostWalkers, this book brings good insights on the development of the original characters and bringing new characters into the fray.

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Grammi7

Posted July 12, 2009

I Also Recommend:

Mind Game - The Ghost Walker Series by Christine Feehan

I loved this and all of the ghost Walker Series by Christine Feehan. She is a great Paranormal Romance Writer.

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LizChapman

Posted July 9, 2009

I Also Recommend:

READ THIS BOOK! You will not be disappointed...

This was the first Ghostwalker book I read and could not put it down. I immediately went to B&N and purchased the entire series of Ghostwalker books. Every single one of the books are dynamite. I absolutely love the men in the books, how they take control of the situations to protect the women. How much they love their women. I have read every one of Christine Feehan's Dark series and Ghostwalkers. The Ghostwalkers are my favorite. You will not be disappointed.

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Anonymous

Posted April 20, 2009

She has done it again.

Christine Feehan has done it again. Another great book. Couldn't put it down!!!!!

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